Located along south central Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula near the city of Seward, Kenai Fjords National Park is a 669,000-acre wildlife reserve area operated by the National Park Service, containing the Harding Icefield and serving as the source for more than 38 North American glaciers.

  • Was the Kenai Fjords area historically inhabited?
    • While no evidence of permanent historic inhabitation has been found, the area is believed to have contained indigenous sites that were buried due to rising waters and seismic activity.
  • When do the earliest village sites in Kenai Fjords date back to?
    • Transient village sites date back as far as 1200 A.D., with mining activity in the area recorded as recently as the mid-20th century.
  • When was Kenai Fjords designated as a National Park?
    • The area was first established as Kenai Fjords National Monument in 1978 under the Antiquities Act. In 1980, it was redesignated as a National Park under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.
  • What is protected within Kenai Fjords National Park?
    • The park was established to protect the Harding Icefield, one of the largest icefields in the United States. It contains more than 38 glaciers, including Bear and Exit Glaciers.
  • How large is Kenai Fjords National Park?
    • The park encompasses more than 669,000 acres along the southeastern side of the Kenai Peninsula.
  • Where is the park headquarters located?
    • The park is headquartered in the nearby port town of Seward, a popular destination for cruise ship excursions.
  • How many visitor centers does the park have?
    • The park has two visitor centers:
      • Kenai Fjords National Park Visitor Center – Located in Seward’s harbor, open daily in summer, featuring the short film Waves Over Seward.
      • Exit Glacier Nature Center – Serves as a trailhead, features natural history exhibits, an Alaska Geographic bookstore, and visitor information.
  • How was the park’s landscape formed?
    • The park’s fjord glacial valleys were shaped by movement of the North American Plate and Pacific Plate, which gradually lowers the Kenai Mountains.
  • What is the most accessible glacier in the park?
    • The Exit Glacier Area is the park’s only section accessible by vehicle, located 12 miles from downtown Seward. It features trails such as:
      • Glacier View Trail – A one-mile trail offering scenic views.
      • Edge of the Glacier Trail – A moderate difficulty trail providing closer glacier access.
  • What activities are available in the Exit Glacier Area?
    • The area is open year-round, with seasonal winter recreation including dogsledding, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing.
  • How can visitors experience the Harding Icefield?
    • Views of the Harding Icefield can be accessed via the 8.2-mile roundtrip Harding Icefield Trail or through private flightseeing tours.
  • How can visitors explore the park’s Coastal Fjords Area?
    • The Coastal Fjords Area is primarily explored by boat, with numerous boating and wildlife excursions available from local tour companies.
  • Are there accommodations in the Coastal Fjords Area?
    • Two coastal cabins are available for summer use:
      • Aialik Public Use Cabin
      • Holgate Public Use Cabin
      The area also has camping and landing beaches accessible by water taxi.
  • Is kayaking allowed in Kenai Fjords?
    • Yes, kayaking is permitted along the coastline, though it is recommended for advanced kayakers due to turbulent water conditions.
  • What educational programs does the park offer?
    • The park provides ranger-led walks and educational programs focused on marine wildlife, native botany, and the area’s indigenous cultures.
  • What is the Junior Ranger program?
    • The Junior Ranger program allows young visitors to earn certificates and badges by completing activities through the Explorer Journal app.
  • What is the Art for Parks Backpacks program?
    • This program provides visitors with rentable art supplies to create artwork inspired by the park.
  • What marine wildlife can be seen in the park?
    • Tours through Seward-area excursion companies provide up-close experiences with Steller sea lions, Dall’s porpoises, and other marine wildlife.
  • Does the park collaborate with other organizations?
    • Yes, the park offers periodic public programming in partnership with the Alaska SeaLife Center.

Kenai Fjords National Park, PO Box 1727, Seward, AK 99664, Phone: 907-422-0500

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